Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed is hopeful of getting back the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) for Bangladeshi products in the US market.
The minister came up with the optimism while talking to the reporters after a meeting with a delegation from Foreign Investors’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) led-by its President Rupali Chowdhury at the Commerce Ministry.
“We have already fulfilled 13 conditions, out of 16, set out by the US administration to regain the GSP facilities,’’ he told the journalists, adding: ““The remaining three pre-conditions will also be fulfilled by April.”
The conditions are appointing 200 more fire inspectors, allowing trade unions at the RMG factories located in EPZ areas and giving clarification on the US allegation against the alleged tortures on the workers in some factories.
As far as the US allegation on the tortures of the workers is concerned, the Tofail said 19 factories have so far been identified in the wake of the US allegation of tortures on RMG workers.
About the trade union issue, Tofail said: “There has been no such provision for introducing trade union in the EPZ areas under the existing EPZ law, but if we can implement labour law everywhere and ensure workers’ rights including in EPZs, we will be able to get back our GSP facilities.’’
The minister will hold a meeting with the stakeholders to discuss about the progress of action plan imposed by the US government, which also halted the GSP facilities of Bangladeshi goods in the US market on June 27, 2012.
During the meeting, the FICCI delegation urged the commerce minister to create a level playing business environment for the foreign investors.